Disney+ has been streaming movies at the same time they come to theaters—but that is set to change with «Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.»
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU), coming out everywhere on Friday, September 3. Previously this year, Marvel movie Black Widow came to Disney+ on the same day it came to theaters under what is called Disney Premier Access, which allowed subscribers to pay an additional premium to watch the latest movies fresh from movie theaters. Viewers hoping to watch the next Marvel film on Disney+ this month, however, will be disappointed. Shang-Chi, which stars Simu Liu, Awkwafina and Michelle Yeoh, is only in theaters. However, the movie will be streaming at some point, though viewers have a few weeks to wait. To understand why Shang-Chi is only in theaters when previous major Marvel and Disney movies came straight to Disney+, we have to understand a little of the cinema industry post-pandemic. When COVID-19 closed down theaters, the major studios were left with a choice—either delay films for when the pandemic was contained, or release them onto streaming.
